Bishop Henton Accepts Western Louisiana Election
Episcopal News Service. May 1, 1980 [80153]
Lubbock, Texas -- The Rt. Rev. Willis Ryan Henton is the first diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church to be elected head of another diocese since the Church's Constitution was amended in 1967 to permit such a translation.
Bishop Henton announced his resignation to the standing committee of the Diocese of Northwest Texas -- where he has served as a bishop since 1971 -- on April 26 and said that he has accepted his election to be bishop of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, subject to the approval of the bishops and standing committees of the Episcopal Church as required by Church law.
Bishop Henton was elected first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Western Louisiana on the sixth ballot in a special election in Alexandria, La., on April 18.
On previous occasions, suffragan bishops have been elected to head other jurisdictions in the Episcopal Church, but Bishop Henton is expected to be the first diocesan bishop to be translated from one diocese to another. The 1967 amendment to the Church's Constitution provides that a diocesan bishop may accept election by another diocese, provided he has served at least five years in his present jurisdiction and provided he receives the consent of the House of Bishops to resign his present post and to accept his new election.
Bishop Henton said he plans to move to Alexandria as soon as the required consents are received from the bishops and standing committees of the Church. He said he hopes that may be accomplished by June 1.
He said he "looks forward to the intriguing challenge of a new diocese in a state I know and love." He said he has a deep love for the people in the Diocese of Northwest Texas and praised the standing committee of that diocese for their understanding of his desire to accept the new work.
Bishop Henton, who is 54 years of age, said he has a "beautiful time" remaining before his retirement and looks forward to the new opportunities presented by this "new start."
Last September the General Convention of the Episcopal Church approved the division of the Diocese of Louisiana and the new Western Louisiana diocese was organized in October. The Atchafalaya River separates the two dioceses, with the new jurisdiction including the entire western and northern sections of the state. The continuing Diocese of Louisiana, whose see city is New Orleans, has 53 congregations and 15,800 communicants; the new Diocese of Western Louisiana has 43 congregations and about 13,000 members.
Bishop Henton was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Northwest Texas in 1971 and became the diocesan bishop the following year when Bishop George H. Quarterman retired. He had served as archdeacon in the Diocese of Louisiana for seven years prior to his election to the episcopate.
A native of McCook, Neb., Bishop Henton received his theological education at General Seminary in New York City. After missionary service in The Philippines, he served congregations in New York City, Mansfield, La., and Baton Rouge, La.
Bishop Henton is married to Martha Somerville Bishop Henton and they have one son. They plan to live in Alexandria, which has been designated the see city of the new diocese.